Every year, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women forces us to confront a painful truth: violence against women in Pakistan is neither rare nor distant.
It unfolds in ordinary homes, in the homes of people we know, among friends who smile despite their pain and insist they are okay, and in the lives of women who continue to move forward each day with strength and grace while enduring so much more than they ever reveal.
Many carry their emotional and physical wounds in silence because speaking out often brings disbelief, judgment, or shame. And for those seeking justice, the process can be as painful as the violence itself, forcing them to relive their trauma in front of strangers.
According to police data, in 2024 more than 32,000 cases of violence against women were reported. More than 5,000 women and girls were raped, more than 24,000 were kidnapped and 547 were murdered in the name of honor. These figures are disturbing, but they also show that more and more families are reporting crimes rather than remaining silent.
The Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey indicates that almost one in three married women has experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence from their spouse. Conviction rates remain low and women are often humiliated during the trial. Many survivors describe the court system as a second test.
Our response must be firm, compassionate and rooted in the values we claim as a society. Islam emphasizes dignity, compassion and justice within the family, guided by the Quranic instruction to live kindly towards spouses. A home built on fear or cruelty contradicts this principle. Protecting vulnerable members of a household is both an Islamic and Pakistani responsibility.
It is within this moral and social context that the National Assembly drafted and passed the Prevention and Protection of Domestic Violence Bill, 2025. The bill recognizes that domestic violence is not limited to physical harm. Emotional intimidation, psychological manipulation, verbal degradation, and economic coercion are equally harmful forms of abuse that erode a person’s dignity and well-being.
As the author of this bill, I carried with me the voices of women who never made it into the system. I fought for this law because your silence was never an option.
Each clause reflects a journey of resilience, persistence and the belief that law-making should serve those who cannot fight for themselves. From its drafting to its passage in the National Assembly, this has been one of the most challenging and deeply personal legislative journeys of my public life.
To make protection meaningful, the bill establishes protection committees across Islamabad to monitor cases and coordinate services. Protective officers will help survivors file complaints, obtain medical exams, access shelters, obtain emergency protection orders, and understand their rights. For the first time, the burden shifts from the survivor to the State.
The bill empowers courts to issue immediate and emergency protection orders to prevent escalation and safeguard women and children. It requires hospitals, police and social welfare departments to coordinate their response so that survivors are not sent from one office to another.
Recognizing that many remain in unsafe environments due to financial dependency, the bill introduces monetary relief and compensation for medical treatment, loss of income, relocation and urgent needs.
This legislation is not limited to women. It extends protection to men, boys, transgender people, the elderly, people with disabilities and all vulnerable people living in a household. Domestic violence can affect anyone and everyone deserves safety and dignity within their own home.
The bill also strengthens Pakistan’s constitutional responsibilities by upholding the right to life, dignity and equality of all citizens. It fulfills the commitments that Pakistan has already made under CEDAW, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the ICCPR, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.
These are obligations that Pakistan accepted willingly and proudly. Guiding this bill through the National Assembly has been one of the most significant responsibilities of my public life. It reflects the bravery of the women of Pakistan and the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who believed that the dignity of women is inseparable from the dignity of the nation.
The Senate now has the responsibility of completing this reform. This bill is not about gender conflict but about equity, justice, and the fundamental promise that every individual deserves security within their own home.
Implementation is what will make or break this law. Even the strictest legislation is meaningless if it is not enforced. Pakistan cannot afford a gap between what is written and what is delivered.
Every delay in appointing protection officers, activating protection committees, notifying rules or training frontline responders leaves survivors exposed and unprotected. Implementation is the dividing line between safety and harm, between justice realized and justice denied.
This is a story of bravery, responsibility and a Pakistan that chooses a safer and more dignified path for all. If we commit to enforcing this law with the seriousness it demands, thousands of women, children, transgender people, older people and vulnerable people will finally have a State that supports them, not against them. The journey does not end here.
This is where it really begins.
The writer is a member of the National Assembly. He has a PhD in Law and is a member of the Special Committee on Kashmir of the National Assembly.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of PakGazette.tv.
Originally published in The News
